“Black Panther” visionaries Ruth E. Carter and Hannah Beachler made Oscars history on Sunday — becoming the first black artists to win in their categories.

Carter became the first African-American winner for Best Costume Design while Beachler became the first African-American winner for Best Production Design.

Advertisement

“Marvel may have created the first black superhero, but through costume design, we turned him into an African king,” Carter said during her acceptance speech. “It’s been my life's honor to create costumes. Thank you to the academy, thank you for honoring African royalty, and the empowered way women can look and lead onscreen.”

Speaking backstage, Carter said she “dreamed” of the win after working on more than 40 films and being nominated twice before, for “Malcolm X” and “Amistad.”

“Wow, I dreamed of this night, and I prayed for this night, honestly, not only for being a hardworking costume designer, but what it would mean for young people coming behind me,” Carter said of her historic win.

“We’ve opened up the door. Finally the door is wide open. And I’ve been struggling and digging deep and mentoring and doing whatever I could to raise others up, and I hope through my example this means that there is hope and other people can come on in and win an Oscar just like I did,” she said.

Carter’s win came after Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry walked onstage in wildly eccentric costumes to present the award, with McCarthy wearing a dress covered with stuffed bunnies.

“I give the strength to all of those who come next to keep going, to never give up. When you think it's impossible, just remember to say this piece of advice I got from a very strong woman: I did my best, and my best is good enough,” Beachler said, after thanking many who have helped her along the away.

Speaking backstage, Beachler said she was so excited about the win, she was having trouble concentrating.

“I’m just totally freaking out right now. I’m holding this and trying to be super serious,” she said, looking at her trophy.

“The advice that changed everything for me the most was when I arrived in Oakland all those years ago with Ryan on the first day,” she said. “Just be honest and be truthful and be you, because if you’re not yourself, then this is never going to work.”

“Black Panther,” which is the first movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series to center on a black superhero, was nominated in seven categories at Sunday’s ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, including Best Picture.

The wins for costume design and production design were the first Oscars for Marvel Studios.